With little salary-cap room entering free agency next week, the Vikings on Friday released longtime defensive stalwarts Xavier Rhodes and Linval Joseph. The moves clear more than $18.5 million of cap room.

The Vikings also released tight end David Morgan, who was designated on the NFL transaction wire as having a “failed physical,” but a source said he is a possible candidate to eventually be re-signed.

Rhodes, a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback, has struggled the past two seasons and will turn 30 in June. Joseph is a two-time Pro Bowl nose tackle who is starting to slow down and turns 32 in October.

Rhodes, who has played the past seven seasons for Minnesota, signed a five-year, $70 million contract extension in 2017. Rhodes was under contract for three more years, including for $9.9 million in 2020, but had no guaranteed money left on his deal. Releasing him saves the Vikings $8.1 million under the cap for 2020 but they incur $4.8 million of dead money.

Joseph, who played the past six years for Minnesota and signed a five-year, $50 million extension in 2017, was under contract for three more years but also is owed no more guaranteed money. Joseph was due to make $11.15 million in 2020. The move saves $10.487 million under the cap but the Vikings will incur $2.4 million in dead money.

Salary-cap analyst Jason Fitzgerald estimates the Vikings will have about $20 million of cap room when free agency starts Monday with the legal tampering period, when teams can contact representatives of free agents on other teams. The new league year begins Wednesday, when all players can sign new contracts. Vikings general manager Rick Spielman and head coach Mike Zimmer both indicated in statements the possibility of either Rhodes or Joseph being re-signed after they test free agency.

“Both Linval and Xavier have personified what it means to be a Minnesota Viking since joining our organization, providing incredible leadership on the field, in the locker room and within the community,” Spielman said. “We are all grateful for their hard work and all they’ve done to help build our culture here in Minnesota. This decision comes now to allow Linval and Xavier to enter free agency prior to the start of the new league year. We are sincerely appreciative of their contributions and
commitment and will remain in communication as all parties navigate free agency moving forward.”

Zimmer touched upon the contributions made by Rhodes and Joseph. The Vikings ranked in the top four in the NFL in total defense for three straight seasons from 2016-18 before dropping to No. 14 in 2019.

“Xavier and Linval were key parts of building this team and establishing the Vikings defense the way we wanted,” Zimmer said. “They’re pros and made everyone around them better. I wish them the best and I know Rick and the personnel staff will stay in communication with them during free agency.”

Zimmer said after last season that with some older starters making big money, there could be notable changes to the roster.

“At the end of the day, it ends up being a young man’s game,” Zimmer had said.

Rhodes made Pro Bowls after the 2016 and 2017 seasons and was first-team All-Pro in 2017. His game slipped the past two years, including being ranked No. 107 of 113 cornerbacks in 2019 by Pro Football Focus. Rhodes made the Pro Bowl after last season but that was due to reputation.

Rhodes blamed his slippage in 2018 because of injuries while Zimmer said it was more because of “technique.” Neither offered much about why he continued to struggle in 2019.

“If I’m not here then I’m not here,” Rhodes told the Pioneer Press before the 2019 playoffs about possibly being cut after the season. “I’m not going to sit here and cry about it. That’s the game. Not many people are on one team for their whole career.”

Rhodes’ longtime mentor, former NFL cornerback Terrell Buckley, said Friday he plans to soon talk to Rhodes about his future and believes he can be a significant contributor for another team.

“There’s no question,” said Buckley, who played in the NFL from 1992-2005 and is now defensive backs coach at Mississippi. “There’s no doubt. There’s 31 other teams out there. He’s done some good things (with the Vikings) and they’ve done some good things for him, but sometimes it’s time to move on.”

Joseph made Pro Bowls in 2016 and 2017. He had injury issues last season, which included missing two games in November with a knee issue.

Joseph could be replaced by Jaleel Johnson, who was effective in four starts in 2018 and 2019 when Joseph was out.

The source said Morgan was let go because his contract would have tolled for 2020 at a nonguaranteed $735,000 due to missing all of last season, the final one of a four-year contract, with a knee injury. The source said had Morgan remained on the roster and been unable to pass a physical, that would lead to Minnesota possibly continuing to be liable for his 2020 salary. If he signs a new Vikings contract, it only would take effect if he passes a physical.

Chris joined the Pioneer Press in 2013 to cover the Vikings. He was a longtime NBA writer with the Akron Beacon Journal, Rocky Mountain News and AOL FanHouse. Before coming to Minnesota, he covered the Miami Heat and Dolphins for Fox Sports. Chris has won six awards in the past three Pro Football Writers of America contests. Chris is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he spent his college years watching the losingest team in the history of Division I-A football.

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